posted February 27th, 2009 at 3:48 pm

Jimmy Buffett christened his new Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber restaurant in Waikiki in style last night, putting on a nonstop two-hour concert for invited guests and VIPs.

“I refuse to participate in this recession,” Buffett told a cheering crowd, many of whom wore balloon animals in the shape of shark fins and parrotheads.

Dressed in his trademark yellow T-shirt, red board shorts and standing in bare feet, Buffett brought out old standards like “Come Monday,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and “Margaritaville,” played “Dukes on Sunday” with local favorite Henry Kapono and jammed all night alongside ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and most of his Coral Reefer band.

He also premiered some new songs, basically putting on a full concert preview for fans who also came to town for Buffett’s concert tomorrow night at the Waikiki Shell.